1. Faith being the first principle in revealed religion, and the
foundation of all righteousness, necessarily claims the first place in
a course of lectures which are designed to unfold to the understanding
the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
2. In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe the following
order--
3. first, faith itself--what it is.
4. Secondly, the object on which it rests. And,
5. Thirdly, the effects which flow from it.
6. Agreeable to this order we have first to show what faith is.
7. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter
of that epistle and first verse, gives the following definition of the
word faith:
8. Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.
9. From this we learn that faith is the assurance which men have of
the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of
action in all intelligent beings.
10. If men were duly to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts
and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would
readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving
cause of all action in them; that without it both mind and body would
be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both
physical and mental.
11. Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their
lives, from the period of their first recollection, and ask themselves
what principle excited them to action, or what gave them energy and
activity in all their lawful avocations, callings, and pursuits, what
would be the answer?--Would it not be that it was the assurance which
they had of the existence of things which they had not seen as yet? Was
it not the hope which you had, in consequence of your belief in the
existence of unseen things, which stimulated you to action and exertion
in order to obtain them? Are you not dependent on your faith, or
belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence?
Would you exert yourselves to obtain wisdom and intelligence, unless
you did believe that you could obtain them? Would you have ever sown,
if you had not believed that you would reap? Would you have ever
planted, if you had not believed that you would gather? Would you have
ever asked, unless you had believed that you would receive? Would you
have ever sought, unless you had believed that you would have found?
Or, would you have ever knocked, unless you had believed that it would
have been opened unto you? In a word, is there anything that you
would have done, either physical or mental, if you had not previously
believed? Are not all your exertions, of every kind, dependent on your
faith? Or, may we not ask, what have you, or what do you possess, which
you have not obtained by reason of your faith? Your food, your raiment,
your lodgings, are they not all by reason of your faith? Reflect, and
ask yourselves if these things are not so. Turn your thoughts on your
own minds, and see if faith is not the moving cause of all action in
yourselves; and, if the moving cause in you, is it not in all other
intelligent beings?
12. And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal
concerns, so it is in spiritual; for the Savior has said, and that
truly, that he that _believeth_ and is baptized, shall be saved. Mark
16:16.
13. As we receive by faith, all temporal blessings that we do receive,
so we, in like manner, receive by faith all spiritual blessings, that
we do receive. But faith is not only the principle of action, but of
power also, in all intelligent beings whether in heaven or on earth.
Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, 11:3:
14. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word
of God: so that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear.
15. By this we understand that the principle of power, which existed in
the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that
it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity, that
all created things exist--so that all things in heaven, on earth, or
under the earth, exist by reason of faith as it existed in HIM.
16. Had it not been for the principle of faith the worlds would never
have been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust--It is
the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises
power over all temporal as well as eternal things. Take this principle
or attribute, (for it is an attribute) from the Deity and he would
cease to exist.
17. Who cannot see, that if God framed the worlds by faith, that it
is by faith that he exercises power over them, and that faith is the
principle of power? And if the principle of power, it must be so in
man as well as in the Deity? This is the testimony of all the sacred
writers, and the lesson which they have been endeavouring to teach to
man.
18. The Saviour says Matthew 17:19,20, in explaining the reason why
the disciples could not cast out the devil, that it was because of
their unbelief: For verily I say unto you, said he, if ye have faith
as a grain of mustard--seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove
hence to you yonder place! and it shall remove: and nothing shall be
impossible unto you.
19. Moroni, while abridging and compiling the record of his fathers,
has given us the following account of faith as the principle of power:
He says, page 563, that it was the faith of Alma and Amulek which
caused the walls of the prison to be rent, as recorded on the 264th
page; that it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi which caused a change to
be wrought upon the hearts of the Lamanites, when they were immersed
with the Holy Spirit, and with fire, as seen on the 421st page; and
that it was by faith that the mountain Zerin was removed, when the
brother of Jared spake in the name of the Lord. See also 565th page.
20. In addition to this we are told in Hebrews 11:32,33,34,35, that
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed
valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, and that
women received their dead raised to life again, &c., &c.
21. Also, Joshua, in the sight of all Israel, bade the sun and moon to
stand still, and it was done. Josh. 10:12.
22. We here understand, that the sacred writers say, that all these
things were done by faith--It was by faith that the worlds were
framed--God spake, chaos heard, and worlds came into order, by reason
of the faith there was in HIM. So with man also--he spake by faith in
the name of God, and the sun stood still, the moon obeyed, mountains
removed, prisons fell, lions' mouths were closed, the human heart
lost its enmity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword its
terror, and death its dominion; and all this by reason of the faith
which was in him.
23. Had it not been for the faith which was in men, they might have
spoken to the sun, the moon, the mountains, prisons, the human heart,
fire, armies, the sword, or to death in vain!
24. Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has
power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by
it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain,
agreeably to the will of God. Without it, there is no power, and
without power there could be no creation, nor existence!
OF THEOLOGY
_Question_.--What is theology?
_Answer_.--It is that revealed science which treats of the being and
attributes of God--his relations to us--the dispensations of his
providence--his will With respect to our actions--and his purposes with
respect to our end. [Buck's Theological Dictionary, page 582].
Q. What is the first principle in this revealed science?
A. Faith. [§ I. ¶ 1.]
Q. Why is faith the first principle in this revealed science?
A. Because it is the foundation of all righteousness. Heb 11:6. without
faith it is impossible to please God. 1st John, 3:7 Little children,
let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness, is righteous, even
as he [God] is righteous. [§ I. ¶ 1.]
Q. What arrangement should be followed in presenting the subject of
faith?
A. First, it should be shown what faith is. [§ I. ¶ 3.] Secondly, the
object upon which it rests. [§ I. ¶ 4.]
And, thirdly, the effects which flow from it. [§ I. ¶ 5.]
Q. What is faith?
A. It is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen (Heb 11:1); that is, it is the assurance we have of the
existence of unseen things. And being the assurance which we have of
the existence of unseen things, must be the principle of action in all
intelligent beings. Heb. 11:3 Through faith we understand the worlds
were framed by the word of God. [§ I. ¶ 8,9.]
Q. How do you prove that faith is the principle of action in all
intelligent beings?
A. First, by duly considering the operations of my own mind; and,
secondly, by the direct declaration of Scripture--Heb. 11:7 By faith
Noah, being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared
an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world,
and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb. 11:8. By
faith Abraham, when he was called to go into a place which he should
afterwards receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not
knowing whither he went. Heb. 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of
promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac
and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Heb 11:27 By faith
Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured
as seeing him who is invisible. [§ I. ¶ 10,11.]
Q. Is not faith the principle of action in spiritual things as well as
in temporal?
A. It is.
Q. How do you prove it?
A. Heb. 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God. Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Rom. 4:16 Therefore
it is of faith that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might
be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to
that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us
all--[§ I. ¶ 12,13.]
Q. Is faith anything else beside the principle of action?
A. It is.
Q. What is it?
A. It is the principle of power also. [§ I. ¶ 13.]
Q. How do you prove it?
A. First, it is the principle of power in the Deity as well as in man.
Heb. 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by
the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things
which do appear.--[§ I. ¶ 14,15,16] Secondly, it is the principle
of power in man also. Book of Mormon, page 264. Alma and Amulek are
delivered from prison. Do. page 421. Nephi and Lehi, with the Lamanites,
are immersed with the Spirit. Do. page 565. The mountain Zerin, by
the faith of the brother of Jared, is removed. Josh. 10:12 Then spake
Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites
before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun,
stand you still upon Gibeon, and you Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Josh. 10:13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the
people had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written
in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven,
and hasted not to go down about a whole day. Mat. 17:19 Then came the
disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? Mat.
17:20. And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief; for verily
I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall
say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall
remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.--Heb. 11:32 And what
shall I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of
Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and
of the prophets. Heb 11:34 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies
of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and
others were tortured, not accepting deliverance: that they might obtain
a better resurrection. [§ I. ¶ 16,17,18,19,20,21,22.]
Q. How would you define faith in its most unlimited sense?
A. It is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion,
and authority over all things. [§ I. ¶ 24.]
Q. How do you convey to the understanding more clearly that faith is
the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and
authority over all things?
A. By it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed,
or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God; and without it
there is no power, and without power there could be no creation, nor
existence! [§ I. ¶ 24.]
LECTURE SECOND.
Of Faith.